This server is a Dell R200 running Ubuntu 8.04LTS using a LSI SAS1068E raid card supplied from Dell, I suspect that there might be some kind of RAID issue with the hardware raid built into the motherboard, but I can't seem to get MegaCLi to return any useful output:

The disks work and AFAIK the raid software is installed correctly. I've seen this issue on RedHat issues also in the past. The RAID was initially setup through the BIOS on this server and appears to be functioning fine apart from this.

The RAID controller you are refering to is considered as being a fake RAID controller (source: Dell employees).

MegaCLI is only built for "real" RAID controllers, therefore you will receive no useful output from this tool. I recommend mpt-status for LSI controllers: http://freecode.com/projects/mptstatus

By the way:
"How can I differ 'fake' RAID controllers from normal ones?"
Normally, the price of "real" RAID controllers starts at 150 Euro, while "fake" are cheaper. There is no real border (150), but that value is based on my experience.

And you can look the model series up in the internet (besides by asking your hardware supplyer).

For example, MegaCLI WILL NOT WORK from a knoppix CD (3.x.x kernel) (tried to because I prefer to update RAID controller firmware to newest stable before installing an OS) with a 9260, which is an even harderware RAID controller ;)
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rackandbonemanMay 17 '12 at 14:54